The establishment of the university goes back to the decision of the General People’s Committee (formerly) No. 535 of 2007 AD regarding the reorganization of universities and higher institutes, which stipulates the establishment of Al-Wadi University, followed by 8 colleges distributed geographically between the cities of Murzuq, Ubari, and Ghat.

This decision was reinforced by the Cabinet Decision of the Government of National Accord No. 138 of 2017 regarding establishing the University of Fezzan, which is based in Murzuq and includes 8 faculties. The College of Nursing and the College of Engineering were also added according to the Minister of Education of the Government of National Accord’s Decision No. 1544 of 2018 regarding adding faculties to the University of Fezzan.